WHAT SHOULD THE WARD
BE LIKE?

You should normally be on a ward that is only for young people. So you should be with other children and young people. The environment should be suitable for young people; there should be things available that young people like to do and the staff should have specific training to work with young people.

However, because of your condition or because there is some other good reason, you might be admitted to an adult ward. This might be for a short time while a bed is found on a ward for young people.

If you are on an adult ward everything should be done to make sure that you feel safe, and that you are not bothered by the other patients.

If the staff on an adult ward are not trained to work with young people then there should be someone from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) who will be in charge of your treatment, or advising the ward staff.

You should be able to meet with visitors, of all ages, in a comfortable place.

No matter what sort of ward you are on you should be able to continue your education. What you can do will obviously be dependent on your mental health condition.

There should be facilities that allow you to practice any religious or cultural activities.

Power Tool 2 will help you to ask questions about the ward

Created by Advocacy in Somerset - Registered Charity No. 1093096

Initially funded by the Childrens Rights Alliance for England’s
Ready Steady Change Programme

Upgrade in 2008 funded by the National Institute for Mental Health in England
and the Department of Health

Copyright © Advocacy in Somerset Ltd 2009